Child & Adult Victim of Sexual Abuse Support Fund Launched

Home Office Launches Child and Adult Victim Sexual Abuse Support Fund

The Home Office has launched two new one-off funds worth nearly £5 million to support victims of child and sexual abuse in England and Wales. Both funds will be managed by Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Bett.

The £2.85 million Sexual Abuse Support Fund is aimed at non-statutory organisations in England and Wales providing support to victims of sexual abuse to help meet the increased demand on their services since the Child Abuse Inquiry was launched on 7 July 2014 by Home Secretary Theresa May. Organisations can provide local services or national services.

Applicants should be supporting one of the following eight areas of victim need as set out in the Ministry of Justice Commissioning Framework:

   - Mental and physical health
   - Shelter and accommodation
   - Family, friends and children
   - Education, skills and employment
   - Drugs and alcohol
   - Finance and benefits
   - Outlook and attitudes
   - Social interaction

Eligible projects will need to provide a detailed description of how the types of support provided will lead to improvements for the victim against some or all of the following five areas:

   - Improved health and wellbeing.
   - Re-integration.
   - Increased safety and perceptions of safety.
   - Feeling informed.
   - Improved experience of the criminal justice system.

Although there is neither a minimum nor a maximum grant, applicants must state whether their bid is scalable as a large number of applications are anticipated.

The deadline for applications is 2 March 2015 (5pm).

Link to guidelines:  http://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/sexual-abuse-victims-fund

(Source: Grantfinder)